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Sports bettors are looking at Monday night 10 pm ET (March 9) for the Los Angeles Lakers push to capture their 15th World Championship.
This is no ordinary season for the Lakers, its championship or bust after getting smoked by the Celtics in the NBA Finals last year. And with Los Angeles seeming to be the best team in the NBA with just over five weeks to go in the regular season, the pressure is on.
Los Angeles is beginning a tough three-game road trip at Portland. The latest odds were being posted Monday morning at Sportsbook.com. Remember to take advantage of Sportsbook.com's $20.00 Free Play for New Mobile bettors right here.
The Lakers are 20-8 straight-up on the road and 16-13 ATS but they are just 3-3 straight-up and 2-4 ATS in their last six. The three outright losses were to potential Western Conference playoffs teams, Phoenix, Denver and Utah.
L.A. needs to come out with a statement on Monday against another playoff team, Portland. The Blazers are one of the best home teams in the NBA straight-up as well as ATS, which makes this an interesting matchup.
Looking at the bigger picture for Kobe Bryant's squad, the Lakers are the heavy favorite to win the West Conference at 1:2 odds. San Antonio (4:1) and Utah (7:1) are the only others teams under 10:1, but don't discount Houston's (12:1) chances. The Rockets are playing like an invigorated team without the injured Tracy McGrady.
Looking at the updated odds-to-win the NBA title, Los Angeles is the favorite at 2:1. Boston (5:2) is still favored over Cleveland (11:4) even though it's the Cavs who appear to have the inside track on home court advantage in the East Conference.
Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com
